Pry type jar cap remover



March 21, 1950 HE 2,5QL204 FRY TYPE JAR CAP REMOVER Filed Feb. 15, 19463 Sheets-Sheet l Jnventor Emile G. Bouc/Ler March 21, E950 E. G. BOUCHERFRY TYPE JAR CAP REMOVER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 15, 1946 UnveniorEmile G. Bouclzer.

March 221, 1950 E. G. BOUCHER 2,501,204

PRY TYPE JAR CAP REMOVER Filed Feb. 15, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.Enzile G.B uc/zer Y GttOflZEgs Patented Mar. 21, 1950 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE Claims.

This invention relates to devices for removing caps or lids of jars andother containers and more particularly to a device or tool which iscapable of ready adjustment for removing caps from jars of differentsizes.

It has heretofore been known to provide jars, bottles and the like witha pressed-on type of cap or lid which includes an internal gasketadapted to embrace the rim of the jar when assembled thereon. In mostinstances, vacuum within the jar maintains the cap in closed position inorder to hermetically seal the contents. To remove caps of the abovetype, various types of prying tools have heretofore been utilized, suchas table knives, screw drivers, spoon handles, backs of can openers andother types of devices which were adapted to be inserted between thelower edge of the cap and the flange of the container, and thereaftertwisted and moved upwardly to pry off the cap. It has been foundhowever, that the tools and devices previously proposed have not beenentirely satisfactory, especially in those instances where it is desiredto recap the container where only a part of the contents have been used.In such case the use of the prior devices has caused the thin gaugemetal cap to be bent entirely out of shape, thereby preventingreplacement or has broken or nicked the annular bead on the glass jar,causing the user to discard the jar and place the contents in anothercontainer. A further difficulty of the prior devices resided in thelarge amount of physical effort which was required to remove the caps.

It is accordingly one of the objects of the present invention to providea novel jar cap removing tool which will be so constituted as to avoidthe foregoing difficulties and disadvantages.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel jar cap removertool which is arranged to readily remove caps with a minimum of effort.

Still another object is to provide a cap remover of the above type whichmay be effectively used to remove caps without any danger of bending ordistorting the caps, such an arrangement being highly desirable wherethe jar is to be recapped after removal of a part of the contentsthereof.

A further object comprehends a novel construction for a jar cap removingtool which includes an adjustable feature in order that the tool may bequickly and eliiciently adjusted for the removal of caps from jars ofdifferent sizes.

A still further object includes the provision of a prying tool forremoving jar caps, the same being provided with a pair of relativelyadjustable which are so arranged as to be readily adapted to fit caps ofvarious sizes.

Still another object is to provide a tool of the above character whichis provided with a novel arrangement of prying teeth or lips which areso arranged that the tool may effectively remove caps from jars ofdifferent sizes without the necessity of varying the spacing of the armsof the tool.

Another object is to provide the arms of the aforesaid prying tool witha novel curved lip construction, opposite edges of which respectivelycoact with the lower edge of the rim of the cap, and the shoulder orflange of the jar, in order to materially reduce the manual effortrequired, and to avoid any distortion of the cap, during removal of thelatter.

Other objects and novel features of the invention will appear more fullyhereinafter from a consideration of the following detailed descriptionwhen taken in connection with the accompanying drawing which illustratesseveral embodiments of the invention. It is to be expressly understoodhowever, that the drawing is utilized for purposes of illustration onlyand is not designed as a definition of the limits of the invention,reference being had for this purpose to the appendedclaims.

Referring to the drawings wherein similar reference characters refer tosimilar parts throughout the several views;

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a tool embodying the principles of thepresent invention, associated with a glass jar of conventionalconstruction;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the tool of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the reverse or under side of the tool of Fig.1;

Figs. 4 and 5 are side views of the tool of Fig. 1, associated with twodifferent but conventional types of glass jars;

Fig. 6 is a partial perspective view of the inturned lip provided on thearms of the tool of Fig. 1 and on the arms of the tools of the othermodifications Fig. '7 is a plan view of the under side of a modifiedform of tool;

Fig. 8 is a plan view of the under side of still another modified formof tool;

Fig. 9 is a diagram illustrating the relationship between the arms ofthe tool when adjusted for caps of different sizes;

Fig. 10 is a partial perspective view of one of the arms of any of thetools, when the cap of Fig. 5 has been partially removed;

Fig. 11 is a plan view of still another form of the invention whereinthe arms of the tool are rigid with the body thereof, and

Figs. 12 and 13 are partial side views of the two arms of the tool ofFig. 11.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1-5, a novel jar cap removerembodying the principles of the present invention is illustrated thereinas comprising a tool 20 provided witha handle- 22 and a pair ofrelatively adjustable arms" 24 and 26. Each of the latter is so formedas to provide an inturned lip 28 adapted to be positioned beneath thecap 30 of a jar 32 or 34, see Figs. 4 and 5, and the construction issuch that upon l'lp'w'a'rd movement of the handle 22, as viewed in thesefigures, the cap 3!) will be readily and quickly removed without marringor" distorting the samea- In order that the tool 20 may be readilyadapted for the efiicient removal: of caps from jars of dif- .ferentsizes, a novel construction is provided by the present invention whichenables one of the arms of the tool to be adjusted with respect to theother arm. More particularly, and in the form illustrated in Figs. 1-5,the arm 26 is formed separately from the tool 2'0" and is a'djustablysecured thereto, as by means of a rivet 36 which extends through anopening in the arm and also through a rivet slot 38 in the tool 20. Asshown more particularly in Figs. 4 and 5, the rivet 36 is provided withan enlarged shoulder 39' immediately beneath the top thereof, which isadapted to be snugly received within enlarged openings 40, 42' or 44formed in the rivet slot 38". Normally, a dished spring washer 46 ofsuitable form, cooperate's with the rivet 36 to' move the latterdownwardly', as viewed in Figs: 4 and to maintain the shoulder 39 withinone of the openings 40, 4-2 or 44'. However, when it is desired toadjust the position of the arm 2'6, itis only necessary to push upwardlyon the bottom of the rivet 35 to compress the s ring washer- 4 B andremove the shoulder 39 from the opening in the rivet sl'ot 38.Thereafter, the arm 26 is moved" to its new position whereupon thespring washer 45 causes the rivet to be snapped into its new lockingposition when the shou1der'39 registers with the new opening in therivet slot.

One of the features of the present invention resides in adjusting thetool in such manner as to locate the arms in such relative" positions asto ferent sizes and the adjusted positions of the adjustable arm 26 forthe small, medium and large jars is' indicated at 2'6d, 26b, and 260. Itwill be readily seen, from this figure that the angle e between thecenter lines 1' and g of the respectime arms 26 and 24, is substantiallythe same, regardless of the adjustment of the arm 26 for jar caps ofdifferent sizes. It has been found that with such an arrangement, thearms are correctly spaced to remove jar caps with a minimum of effortand that the lips 28 are also properly posi-' tioned for effectivecooperation with the different size caps. In addition, breakage of thejar and mutilation of the cap is avoided.

The foregoing desirable results are secured in the form shown in Figs.1-5 by providing a pair These fea- 4 of guide slots 59 and 52 in thetool with which tongues or lugs 54 and 56, carried by the adjustablearm, respectively cooperate. As shown more particularly in Fig. 3, wherethe positions of the arm 26 for medium and small size jars areillustrated in dotted lines, the slots 53 and 52 are so shaped as toproperly position the arm to secure the angularity referred to above.Also, as illustrated. in Fig. 3, the adjustable arm may be provided witha pointer 53 for cooperation with suitable indicia 63 for indicating tothe user, the positions of the arm for large, medium and small jars.Preferably, the lug 54 may be provided with. a widened head, as shown inorder to avoid any possibility of the lugs 5 and 56 being removed fromtheir associated slots during inanipulati'on of the tool.

in either of the slots 19 or 72.

A. slightly modified form of the invention is illustrated in Fig. '7 andis identical with the modification previously described except that theguide slots so and 52 have been omitted. In lieu of the latter, the tool23- is provided with three openings 62 64 and 56 which are adapted toreceive a downwardly extendin lug 68 which is struck out of the arm 25'.It will be understood that other types of projections suchas a stud ora; pin may be used in place of the lug 68, it only being necessary thatthe arm 26- be provided with some type of projection which is adapted tobe snugly received within the openings 64 or 66, when the arm 26 isadjusted for small, medium or large jars. It is desired to point outthat the openings 52, 64 and 6'3 are so arranged with respect to the;rivet slot 38' and the enlarged openings therein that when the arm 26'is adjusted to any one of. its three positions, the two arms of the tooloccupy the desired angular relationship as heretofore pointed out inconnection with Fig. 9- and Figs. 1-5.

In Fig. 8, a further modified form is illustrated wherein the movablearm 26 is so constituted as to be removable from the tool whenadjustment is required. As shown, the tool is provided with three slotsl0, l2 and 74 adjacent its outer edg each of which is provided with anenlarged portion 16 for receiving the shoulder 29 of the stud 36, itbeing understood that the latter includes a spring Washer 46 as in: Fig.4. A struck-out lug 18, or other suitable type of projection is carriedby the under side of the arm 26 and is adapted to be received in theslots l0, "E2 or 74, it being understood from this construction thatwith the parts in the full line position indicated, the arm 26 is firmlyattached to the body of the tool and the latter is adjusted for removingcaps from jars of large size. To adjust the tool for jars of small ormedium size, it is only necessary to press downwardly on the head oi.the rivet 36 to compress the spring 46 and move the shoulder 25) out ofthe enlarged portion 16 of the slot 74. As soon as this occurs, the arm26 may be removed and assembled Thus by an exceedingly simpleadjustment, the arm 26 may be quickly positioned in the desired slot foradapting the tool for different size jars. It will be understood thatthe slots l0, l2 and M are so arranged in the body of the tool as tosecure the desired angular relationship between the arms 26 and 24 ashas heretofore been pointed out in connection with the othermodifications.

Referring to Figs. 4 and 5, it will be noted that the jars 32 and 34 areprovided with flanges adjacent the mouths thereof, it being understoodthat the yieldable gaskets carried by the caps, cooperate with suchflanges to provide the seal maniacs for: the; jars: Due to the use: ofsuch flanges; it has; been found that" with the openers-heretofore.provided; the topfiange'. am off the jar is; oftentimesnickediorwbrokemwhen anzattempti'is made to i remove the; cap;This: diflicultyqis: avoided by the present invention. by.theconstruction; here-- inaft'er described.v

Referring to: 1?, 2 4i and 5,. the opening tool of thepresentihventibn:isshowmthereinin position for removali of the cap. Whenin. such position; it is onlyrnecessary-forthe-'userto move thea-handleportion Hiupwardl'y in orderto easily and effectively: removethe: capfrom: the jar; Morespecifically; andireferrine to: Figs. 2 and: 10.; itwill be! understood that during the: opening operation; the inner: or:adjacent; edges of: the lips 28 willmestzupon:the shoulder' 822ofFig: 4'or the flange.- 84: of Fig: 5; while: the outer-- or: remote corners: onteeth Willi project under the rim of the cap; As. the handle 22'.israised; a powerful camming actiom will: be. secured, see Rig: 1'0, andas: the. cap. is" graduallyrremoved; both the: inner and; outer edges ofthe: lips. move; intoward the jar:. This action. is: important sinceitheinward movementof the. inner edgesv of; thelips serves tosecure'aifirmer fulcrum for the. tool. At the same time; the inwardmovement of the outer edges :compensates for. the natural outwardmovement. thereof, dues tothe. arc of travel of" the arms 24: and? 2.6.;and: thus a firmer contact is maintained; beneath the; rim of the cap.

In. order.- to: allow: the front edges of the lips to pass overstherrim:80 ofj'the jar; during remova'llofi the oap,.and also to permit: theaction offtheinnen-andiouter edgesofthe lips as stated above,- thefioni: edges: of both: lips 28: are curved, as shown. Moreover; azst'oplug 86 is provided to: limit: the inward? movement of the" lips 28 topreventthe: outer corners on teeth thereof from extending. beneath thelower edge of the top: flange 8.02 11': this: manner, full and com--plete coactiorr between; thetoolv and! the cap is assured; and? all?danger of locking" the remote corners; of the. lips: beneath.- theflange 80. is avoidedi Means. areprovided by the. present: invention forfurther reduci'ngthe. manual. effort required in removing the. can. and:preventing nicking or marl-ins: of: the under: side of" the cap; rim. Asshowm. such means. is; constituted. by beveling the outside edge of:eachv of. thelips- 28: at 88'; see Fig.6; such edges forming notchesbetween the outencorners of the. lips: and lugs 86: By; such aconstruction, a fiat: surface engages: thecap rim, and all? possibility:of. binding: of the tool and cutting. org. the; cap: rim, is: avoided.

Heferringrnow-tdFigs. BIL-13, the tool illustnatedi therein; is;provided with: a. pair" of fixed arms IOIII and I102, butthe"construction is such that the same: desirable results are secured as inthe forms previously-described and. which were provided with. relativelyadjustable arms. In the. modified form,. a: novel: lip. or: tootharrangement; is; provided which. automatically: accommodates: the, toolion effective use with. different size Jars.

l/Iorezparticularlygand referring: to- Fig; 1.1, the arm, I100: isprovided? with; an; inwardly turned. lip ISM; having: a curved; front:or end edge I063 a tooth. I08; being; formed. on one. corner thereof bya\ curved cut-away portion. or. notch I IzIh. As will appear more fully:hereinaiten. the; tooth; I108 is. adapted to: project: beneath the; rim:of the cap; a; distance:- determined; by the. stop. lug; 8B; and the;curved part I, m: bears against the. rim during Y removal: oethecapz.It: is; pointed out; here, that the curved. part Iii] is thusreflective-regardless; ofi'thesize-of the'jar from which, the cap. is=tobe removed.

In: order to adapt the modified; tool to caps of differentxsizes; thearmI02 is providedwith aninturnedilip; H2? which is so constituted as to:provide a. plurality of; teeth which are automatically and. selectivelyoperable depending uponzthe size of; the J'arrused; Moreparticularly;the-front: o1 end edge I-I i of the-lipl I2 is curved;as-.-clearlyillustr,ated in Fig. 11, and such edge is. provided; with a.pair of, teeth II 6 and H8 which; are. respectively formed by curved,cutaway portions or notches I20 and I22. Prefer;- ably the? edge M4 isrelatively straight at point I.I9-'immediately adiarent tooth-j I It,for; a purpose which will; appear morev fully hereinafter. As in.the=previous= forms, thelip H2 is; provided with-the stop'lue- 86 inorder to limit the inward travel ofJtheedgeof; the lip; during operationof the tool. It isdesired; to point out that, in operation, the tooth H6is effective in removing caps. from small size jars, while the toothI-I8 comes-into.operationonjars of the medium and largerrsizes. In orderto permit the automatic selection and use; of the tooth H6, the curvedportion: I210: is. connectedwith the-tooth II8 by a sloping edge I 24which permits the tooth N48 to" clear the rimof the-capwhen: the tool isin operation: for the smaller: jars.

Inusing-the modified tool ofFig. l1, itwill be understood. thatthesamemay beapplied to jar caps-of the conventional types illustratedin Figs. 4 and" 5; It applied; to small jars of the types shown lllzElgS. 4' and: 5, it will be; understood that as thetoolisraised; theinner; or adjacent edges of'the lips IM and II 2 will rest upontheshoulder 8-2. of the jar; of Fig. 4,- or the flange 84 ofliig:5;.whilerthe, teeth Hi8 and IIS will project beneath the, rim. of; thecap, the curvature of thefront'edges IIlfiand H4, and the slope of theedge I24 being such that the tooth II8 will not projectzbeneaththe caprim. During raising of the tool, a. powerfulcamming' action will beattained, asinFig. 10, andas the cap is removed, the: teeth I08 and It'dwill move in toward the jar; Thus a firmen fulcrum will be obtained forthe tool: and. the. inward movement compensates for the natural outwardmovementof these teeth due to thearc of travel-.ofthe arms I!!!) and,I02, in.- order: to obtain a firmer contact beneath the rim.- of thecan:

In the event that the tool: is used with jars of the medium or largersizes, it will be understood; that the operation is the same, as abovedescribed; except thatithe, movement of the lips 1.043- and H12: beneaththe cap. rim is limited by the stop lugs: 8% and that the cap is removedby: the teeth, H18 and; H8. and notches H9. and I22 cooperating withthe. rim of the cap. The stop; lugs 85 in. addition to securingtheadvantages: heretofore pointed out, also serve to prevent thev teeth.H381 and: H6 from getting up, too far between thecapand, jar; whichwould other.- wise cause-a-bindingmovement of-the tool, rather thanz aliftingmovement of the cap.

It: is. desired to: pointout that thedistances between the teeth. ma.and; M5; on, the one hand, and between teeth I08 and H3 on the other aresuch that the fulcrum of the tool: is located at a point: where? aminimum-10f. manual effort; is required: to. remove: the; caps fromjars: o f all; con ventional: sizes: Thus. very little strain, is;imparted to; the jar and; can and. breaka e; Qfj' the jar or mutilationof the cap is entirely avoided, thereby enabling the cap to bere-applied to the jar after removal of a portion of the contentsthereof.

It will be noted that the teeth [08, H6 and H8 are so formed as to becurved or hooked, and it has been found in practice that such aconstruction secures a distinct advantage. For example, the arrangementproposed permits the points of the teeth to extend upwardly beneath therim of the cap and function as hOOks during application of the tool tothe cap. As a result, this construction aids in holding the arms mo andH32 tightly against the jar parts 82 or 84 of Figs. 4 and 5, duringmanipulation of the tool.

A further feature includes the shape of the tooth H6 at point I l 9,which is so arranged that such point of the edge H4 acts as a stop, oncertain size jars, to prevent the teeth H and H8 from projecting too farunder the cap. It will be readily understood that should the teeth H8 orH8 project too far beneath the cap, the teeth would bind upon the head80 0f the jar, and removal of the cap would be impossible. If desired,the tool of Fig. 11, as well as the tools of the other modifications,may be provided with a bottle cap remover I30 as well as an opening [32so that the tool may be hung on a nail or hook.

The present invention thus provides a novel and simple prying toolconstruction which is especially adaptable for use in connection withjar caps of the conventional pressed-on type. All forms of the inventionmay be used with jars of various sizes and with the variable arm typesare relatively simple in construction and capable of read adjustment,the same results are obtained by the fixed arm type wherein a variationin tooth spacing and formation is used to adapt the tool to thedifferent size jars. In all forms, the curvature of the front edge; ofthe lips and the use of the stop lugs enables the tool to be usedwithout danger of chipping the glass jar as well as securing a firmfulcrum or base for the inner or adjacent edges of the lips. It will beunderstood that the use of arms of substantial width, considerablyreduces the travel of the handle of the tool when removing caps, thusobtaining a powerful camming action, with a slight movement and aminimum of effort.

While several embodiments of the invention have been illustrated anddescribed herein, with considerable particularity, it will be readilyunderstood by those skilled in the art that various modifications may bemade therein, without departing from the spirit of the invention. Forexample, while the guide slots for the variable arm have beenillustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, as being of a certain shape, it will beunderstood that other shapes may be employed to yield substantially theangular relationship as disclosed in Fig. 9. It will also be understoodthat the enlarged openings 40, 42 and 4G in the slot 38 may be omittedif desired, and the variable arm adjusted to any desired position in theslot. Various other changes, rearrangements and modifications may beresorted to, all within the scope of the invention. Reference willtherefore be had to the appended claims for a definition of the limitsof the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A tool for removing jar caps comprising a one-piece handle having apair of spaced arms projecting therefrom and formed integrally therewith, each of the said arms being provided with a projecting lip'to-fitbeneath the flange of a jar cap, each lip being provided with a tooth atthe outside or remote corners,-and at least one of the lips beingprovided with a second tooth adjacent the first tooth, and a stop lugformed on each of the lips adjacent the outside corners thereof andprojecting upwardly from the lips to engage the flange of the cap tolimit the movement of the lips beneath the flange.

2. A toolfor removing flat-topped pressed-on caps from jars of the typehaving a bead over which a flange of the cap fits and also having ashoulder positioned below the bead, comprising a member having a handleportion and a pair of spaced-apart prying lips projecting therefrom,each of said lips having an' end edge for insertion between the loweredge of the flange of the cap and the shoulder of the jar, each of saidlips also having a side edge engaging said shoulder to act as a fulcrumand having also an opposite side edge engaging the flange of the capwhen the handle portion is moved to raise the end edges of the lips toremove the cap, and means carried by each of said lips for engaging theflange of the jar cap to limit the movement of the lips beneath theflange to prevent the corners of the lips at the juncture of the endedges and the last named side edges from. looking beneath or nicking thetop bead of the jar during removal of the cap, said means comprising apart carried by the last named side edges of each of the lips andprojecting upwardly therefrom when the lips are positioned beneath thecap flange.

3. A tool for removing jar caps from jars of the type having a beadedrim at the top of the jar, an annular shoulder spaced below said rim,and wherein the cap is vacuum sealed and is provided with an annularskirt having its lower edge spaced above said shoulder, comprising ahandle member having a projecting lip for insertion between the shoulderand the lower edge of the cap skirt of a jar to occupy an initialposition, said lip having an edge curved to substantially fit thecurvature of the neck of the jar, and opposite side edges, one of saidside edges resting on the jar shoulder and forming a fulcrum for the lipwhen the handle member is moved from the initial position to pivot thelip about said fulcrum to bring the other side edge into engagement withthe lower edge of the cap skirt to remove the cap, and said lip havingan abutment positioned adjacent said edge and extending above the planeof the lip to engage the outer periphery of the lower edge of the capskirt and positively limit the distance said other side edge of the lipmay project between said shoulder and the lower edge of the cap skirt toprevent the lip from interlockingwith the beaded rim at the top of thejar as the'lip is pivoted about said fulcrum to remove the cap.

l. A tool for removing different size caps of the pressed-on type fromjars and other containers, comprising an elongated handle having a pairof spaced-apart lips projecting therefrom and positioned on oppositesides of the longitu dinal axis of the handle, each of the lips beingprovided with an endedge and'opposite side edges, the respective sideedges located closest to said longitudinal axis constituting adjacentside edges and forming cam parts to co-act with a shoulder of the jarwhen the end edges of the lips are projected beneath the rim of the cap,

"and the other side edges'constituting remote side edges, the end edgeof one lip being provided with at least one tooth "and the and edge ofthe other hp being provided with a plurality of spacedapart teeth, saidtooth cooperating with one of said teeth to remove a cap of one size andsaid tooth cooperating with another one of said teeth to remove a cap ofa different size as the handle is moved to cam the end edges of the lipsupwardly with respect to said shoulder, and said lips being providedwith a stop means projecting upwardly from the lips and positionedadjacent the end edges thereof for engagement with the rim of the cap tolimit the movement of said end edges beneath said rim.

5. A tool as set forth in claim 4 wherein said tooth of said one lip ispositioned at the juncture of the end and remote side edges thereof, andsaid teeth of said other lip are positioned, one at the juncture of theend and remote side edges of said other lip, and another, between saidlast named juncture and the juncture of the end and adjacent side edgesof said other lip.

EMILE G. BOUCI-IER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

Number Number UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Baseler Apr. 30, 1901 IvesAug. 27, 1907 Dickerman Sept. 15, 1914 Hardy Mar. 26, 1918 WisenbergOct. 18, 1921 Pihl Oct. 23, 1923 Gallagher Dec. 11, 1923 Vaughan Apr.15, 1924 Hosking Oct. 3, 1924 Fischer Mar. 17, 1925 Becker Jan. 5, 1926Gurnett Mar. 6, 1928 Courtney Oct. 13, 1931 Disch Jan. 9, 1934 LebherzFeb. 18, 1936 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Switzerland Dec. 7, 1925Switzerland May 1, 1928

